Slipper sock



R. K. TANN SLIPPER SOCK March 6, 1962 Filed Jan. 6, 1961 ATTORNEYS nite States The present invention relates to Slipper socks an particularly to a slipper sock having a puppet mounted on the toe thereof.

Slipper socks have become increasingly popular for wear around the house as a substitute for conventional bedroom slippers. The present invention provides a unique and fascinating slipper sock for small children that has a puppet head mounted on top of the toe of each sock so that as the child walks or wiggles his toes, the puppet heads bob up and down and the mouths of each of the puppets open and close. Children are immediately attracted to the slipper socks and have a wonderful time walking around with them on their feet. They can also slip the puppet socks off and play with them as hand puppets by inserting their hand inside the sock and actuating the mouth of the puppet with their fingers.

It is one object of the present invention to provide a slipper sock for children having a puppet head mounted on the toe thereof.

It is another object of the invention to provide a slipper sock having a puppet head mounted on the toe thereof that will bob up and down to actuate the mouth of the puppet as the child walks or waves his foot.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a slipper sock having a puppet head mounted on the toe thereof so that the mouth of the puppet will open and close as the child walks about or Waves his foot, and which can also be slipped off the foot and operated as a hand puppet by inserting the hand into the sock and actuating the mouth of the puppet with the fingers.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a slipper sock having a puppet head attached to the toe thereof in a very simple and economical manner with a minimum of stitching which still provides a rugged construction and an attractive and pleasing appearance.

Other objects and features of novelty of the present invention will be specifically pointed out or will otherwise become apparent when referring, for a better understanding of the invention, to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a slipper sock embodyig features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the slipper sock illustrated in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the front half of the slipper sock illustrated in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, a slipper sock embodying features of the present invention is illustrated which co prises an ankle sock 12 having a puppet head 14 attached to the top of the toe thereof. The ankle sock 12 is a conventional ankle sock having a heel 16 and toe 18, with an ankle portion 19 extending upwardly and rearwardly from the heel 16. However, as best seen in FIG. 2, the toe of the sock 12 is cut substantially parallel to the bottom of the sock back to a point 20 to provide what may be termed a mouth having an upper toe portion 22 and a lower toe portion 24 to facilitate attachment of the puppet head 14, as will be described.

The puppet head 14 comprises an outer cloth cover 26 (FIG. 3) filled with a suitable stutfing 28 and decorated with ear flaps 30, a patch nose 32 and buttons 34 for eyes. In the particular head illustrated, by way of example, loops of yarn 36 are provided on the top of the head and additional loops of yarn 38 are provided on the ear flaps to enhance the appearance and novelty of the puppet head. A cloth mouthpiece 40 is also provided as a sepaatent rate piece folded along a line as at 42 to provide an upper mouth portion 44 sewed to the front under side of the puppet head and a lower mouth portion 46 sewed to the lower portion 24 of the toe of the sock, as will be described. 7

Referring specifically to FIGS. 2 and 3, in making the slipper sock, the upper toe portion 22 of the sock is sewed to the cover layer 26 along the entire bottom edge thereof. With this construction, the upper toe portion 22 extends from a point 48 (FIG. 3) at the nose of the puppets head, back to a point 50 at the rear of the puppets head, and the puppets head and sock are sized relative to one another so that the width of the head is substantially the same as the width of the upper toe portion. In this manner, the upper toe portion of the sock completely encloses the bottom of the head to retain the stuffing 28 therein.

The upper mouth portion 44 of the separate mouthpiece 49 is positioned flat against the bottom front portion of the puppets head and the outer edge thereof also: sewed to the bottom edge of the cover layer 26 in a manner to conceal the upper toe portion of the sock therebeneath. It will be observed that the mouth piece 40 is not sewed along the line 42 in order to form a pocket between the upper mouth portion 44 and the upper toe portion 22 which communicates with the interior of the sock to enable a finger to be inserted, as will be described in greater detail hereinafter. To complete the slipper sock, the outer edge of the lower mouth portion 46 of the mouthpiece is sewed to the cut edge of the lower'toe portion 24 of the sock to completely close off the opening at the toe of the sock.

With this construction the puppet head 14 is securely fastened to the upper toe portion of the sock 12 in a very rugged yet attractive manner. A child can easily slip the sock 12 over his foot so that his toes extend into the lower toe portion 24 beneath the lower mouth portion 46 of the mouthpiece. Since the upper mouth portion 44 of the mouthpiece fits flatly against the under side of the puppet head 14, the childs toes will not tend to slip into the pocket formed between the upper mouth portion 44 and the upper toe portion 22 of the sock. As the child walks about the house with a sock slipped on each foot as described, the puppet heads 14 will bob up and down to cause the mouth 40 to open and close and make it appear that the puppet is speaking. Also if the child waves his foot at someone or wiggles his toes, the puppet head 14 will bob to make the mouth open and close. Antics such as this have proved to be very fascinating to children and a great source of fun. Further, the child can slip a sock off his foot and insert his hand inside to operate the puppet by placing some fingers in the pocket between the upper mouth portion 44 of the mouthpiece and the upper toe portion 22 of the sock and placing his thumb and other fingers in the space between the lower toe portion 24 and the lower mouth portion 46.

In order to make the puppet sock more attractive, the cover layer 26 of the puppet head can be made of a dark color, such as a bright blue, and the mouth piece made of a white cloth for contrast. A red cloth tongue 52 may also be sewed within the mouthpiece 40 along the line 42 in a manner to enable it to fl-ap freely. The sock 12 would also preferably be made a darker color, such as a bright red, to contrast with the white mouthpiece 40.

While it will be apparent that the embodiment of the invention herein disclosed is well calculated to fulfill the objects of the invention, it will be appreciated that the in vention is susceptible to modification, variation and change without departing from the proper scope or fair meaning of the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A combination slipper sock and puppet head comprising a sock having a toe and heel portion with an ankle portion extending upwardly and rearwardly from the heel portion, a puppet head mounted on top of said toe portion of the sock with the nose of the puppet facing forwardly, a mouthpiece having an upper mouth portion and a lower mouth portion, said upper mouth portion being secured to the puppet head fior movement therewith and said lower mouth portion being secured to the sock above the space for the toes whereby the mouth of the puppet can be actuated by wiggling the toes or walking to bob the puppet head in a manner to move the upper mouth portion rela tive to the lower mouth portion thereof.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein a pocket is formed between said upper mouth portion of the mouthpiece and the puppet head which opens rearwardly, said sock having an opening therein to communicate said pocket with the interior of said sock whereby a person can operate the puppet manually by inserting his hand in the sock and some of his fingers into said pocket and his thumb or other fingers into said toe space to actuate the mouth of the puppet.

3. A combination slipper sock and puppet head comprising a sock having a toe portion and a heel portion with an ankle portion extending upwardly and rearwardly from said heel portion, said toe portion being cut along a line substantially parallel to the bottom of the sock to provide a lower toe portion and an upper toe portion, a puppet head mounted on top of said upper toe portion and secured thereto with the nose of the puppet head facing forwardly, and a separate mouthpiece folded along a Line to provide forwardly extending upper and lower mouth portions, said upper mouth portion having the edge thereof secured to the under side of the puppet head to form a pocket beneath the puppet head communicating with the interior of the sock along said line, and said lower mouth portion having the edge thereof secured to the edge of said lower toe portion to define and enclose a space for receiving the toes of the person wearing the sock.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Germany July 3, 

